Arkansas' upcoming landfill ban on computer and electronic wastes
Most homes in Arkansas have at least one television and a computer, as well as several other consumer electronics devices. Most Arkansas businesses and industries rely on
electronics in their work. From banking to the traffic signals on city streets, electronic equipment makes our world comfortable and productive. But what happens to all of these
electronics when they break down or no longer serve the users’ needs? They become part of the fastest growing component of our daily solid waste stream – electronic waste, commonly
referred to as e-waste.
Many electronics contain elements – lead, mercury, and cadmium for example – that are safe when the items are used as directed, but can be hazardous if disposed of in household
trash and compacted at landfills. Televisions and CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors contain an average of four pounds of lead and could contain double that amount depending on size
and make. Mercury from electronics has been cited as a leading source of mercury in municipal waste. The largest source of cadmium in municipal waste is rechargeable nickel-cadmium
(NiCd) batteries, commonly found in laptops, cell phones and cameras. In addition, brominated flame-retardants are commonly added to plastics used in electronics. If improperly
handled, these toxins can be released into the environment, posing a threat to human health.
Realizing the potential effects on Arkansas’ environment and people, the state Legislature gave ADEQ the option of banning electronic waste from Arkansas’ municipal solid waste
landfills beginning in January, 2010. Until then, residents can dispose of e-waste with other household items unless restricted by local landfills. Non-household generators, such
as businesses and government offices, may be subject to hazardous waste rules. (Consumer electronics are generally handled as universal wastes.) The Department of Environmental
Quality has worked and will continue to work to provide alternatives for everyone in the state. As with other materials, the agency encourages you to explore the three R’s –
reduction, reuse and recycling – of e-waste.
For more details, please visit the Arkansas Department of
Environmental Quality Solid Waste Recycling web page that discusses these issues.
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